God Justifies by Grace through Faith, but Works Justifies Faith

I’m a Baptist with a long history of defending the doctrine of justification by grace through faith. Nothing has changed there. I simply want to point out something that James says. (I am studying through James in my personal quiet time because I need His truth-telling.) He basically says that works justify faith.

In chapter one, he lifts up Abraham as an example of how God justified him by works “when he offered up Isaac his son…” We need to realize that this event took place decades after Abraham first followed God out of Ur by faith. James closes his thought by saying “faith apart from works is dead.” I think James’ point about works is that it’s a matter of proving our faith. You say you believe in God? You say He’s justified you by grace through faith? Prove it!

I don’t think for a second that James is teaching salvation by works. Rather he is teaching that salvation is followed by works, that faith is proven, justified, and validated by works. We don’t earn anything with God through works, otherwise salvation isn’t of grace at all. What we do earn is a hearing with people, confidence in our lives, and outward evidence of an inward change.

Come to faith in Christ today and you’ll be justified (declared not guilty of your sins – all of them). Then work, not to earn any favor with God, but simply to give credence to the timeless doctrine of justification by grace through faith. You say you’re saved through faith? Prove it.